Friday, July 22, 2011

The scoreboard made it appear close for a while there, but the truth was that the Dodgers' only runs came off an Ian Desmond error in the fourth inning; the Dodgers were 0-for-5 with RISP and 6 LOB in all. Even still, down 3-2 in the top of the ninth, it was the combined suckitude of Mike MacDougal, Hong-Chih Kuo, and ultimately Matt Guerrier (who gave up the grand slam to Jerry Hairston Jr.), along with the decisions of Don Mattingly, to put the game well out of reach. I don't know, possibly maybe perhaps the combined efforts of James Loney, Rod Barajas, and Jamey Carroll might have scrounged up a run in the ninth (in some bizarro universe; strikeout, fly out, called strikeout was the actual outcome)--but five runs? Forget about it. Dodgers remain 13.5 GB with 63 to play.

Oh, and Hiroki Kuroda had a nice audition for a contender, going 6.1 IP with 3 ER, 7 Ks and 3 BB. He takes the loss, but to his credit he might have bought a ticket out of this hellhole. We will miss you, Hiro!

Also, don't forget Kuo's epic flameout against the Giants two days ago, in which he walked three batters. THREE. And he walked the only guy he faced tonight! Seriously, he's a better option than Guerrier?

The scoreboard made it appear close for a while there, but the truth was that the Dodgers' only runs came off an Ian Dezmond error in the fifth inning; the Dodgers were 0-for-5 with RISP and 6 LOB in all. Even still, down 3-2 in the top of the ninth, it was the combined suckitude of Mac MikeDougal and, ultimately, Hong-Chih Kuo (who gave up the grand slam to Jerry Hairston III), along with the decisions of Don Matingly, to put the game well out of reach.

Donnie Baseball has been fine so far. His taste for bunting aside, he makes the right moves and for the most part allows pitchers to right themselves, rather than overly protect them if they should ever show any semblance of fatigue.

I just can't put anything at Donnie's feet. It's convenient for people because, well, he's the manager. But he just doesn't have the horses. I actually think he's been better than expectations, which in my case meant I didn't think he knew some basic rules of baseball.

Sweet mother of god we suck. We just fucking suck. Furcal MUST GO. He's got nothing. He had one at bat in particular that was comparable to any pee wee league AB I could walk by and watch over in the local YMCA park. And he's gone, mentally.